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2024 Kobani clashes

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2024 Kobani clashes
Part of Operation Dawn of Freedom and Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war
Operation Dawn of Freedom.jpg

  Controlled by the Syrian Interim Government
  Controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
Date8 December 2024 – 23 December 2024 (15 days)
Location
Ayn al-Arab District in eastern Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Parts of the al-Raqqa and western Aleppo countryside
Status

SDF victory

Belligerents
Syrian opposition Syrian Interim Government
 Turkey[1]		  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
Commanders and leaders
Syrian opposition Hassan Hamada
Syrian opposition Abdurrahman Mustafa
Metin Gürak		 Mazloum Abdi
Ferhad Şamî
Nuri Mahmoud
Units involved

Syrian opposition Syrian National Army

Turkish Armed Forces

Syrian Democratic Forces
Casualties and losses
Syrian opposition 34 killed[a]
5 captured[9]
c. 450 killed (SDF claim)[10][b]
39 vehicles 6 tanks (SDF claim)[citation needed]		 22 killed[c][discuss]

11 civilians killed by SNA-TAF[d]

15 killed[19]

The 2024 Kobani clashes was a military campaign conducted by the pro-Turkish Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Turkish Air Force against Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following the successful 2024 Manbij offensive. The offensive was launched with the intent to capture the Kurdish-majority city of Kobanî and positions in Ayn al-Arab District to the east of the Euphrates. The offensive was initiated with numerous airstrikes across the Kobanî countryside and on the Tishrin Dam standing on the Euphrates between recently captured Manbij District territories and the Ayn al-Arab District.

Offensive

From 8 December 2024, clashes took place on the Qara Qozak Bridge of the M4 Motorway and the Tishrin Dam, both critical Euphrates crossings,[20] with the SDF claiming to have killed dozens of SNA fighters.[11]

Beginning on 9 December, pro-Turkish Syrian National Army (SNA) military forces conducted drone strikes against the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, resulting in severe damage to its electrical generation infrastructure. The attack rendered the facility partially inoperative, causing widespread power outages across numerous population centers dependent on the dam for electricity. Dam personnel became trapped within the facility due to the surrounding combat operations, prompting urgent appeals from its staff to stop all combat operations at the dam due to its importance as essential civilian infrastructure across the region.[21] On 9 December 11 SDF fighters were also killed in a Turkish drone strike on an SDF position near Qarquzaq bridge east of Manbij.[13]

Kobani, Ayn Issa, Zormixar, Berkel Hill, Miştenûr Hill, and the Qereqozax bridge and nearby positions were bombarded with UAVs on the same day. Three members of SDF's Internal Security fighters were killed in a drone strike on the Qereqozax bridge. Two children were killed by heavy weapons in Kon Eftar village on the outskirts of Kobani.[22][23]

The airstrikes were coupled with ground operations by Turkish-backed factions to take the dam out of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control and cross into Ayn al-Arab District, which reportedly led to the deaths of dozens of SNA troops and the destruction of several of their vehicles.[24][25]

Also on 11 December, six fighters of the SDF's Manbij Military Council were killed in a Turkish drone strike near Qarquzaq bridge, south of Ayn al-Arab.[1] An elderly woman was killed and her grandson injured after their civilian vehicle was targeted by machine gun fire while crossing the bridge to return home to Manbij.[26]

On 12 December, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Turkish Armed Forces and the Dawn of Freedom Operations Room initiated violent attacks on the Tishrin Dam using heavy weaponry such as tanks and drones. The SOHR warned that the assaults could potentially trigger a dam failure and lead to a significant humanitarian crisis.[27] The same day, a truce mediated by the United States was announced.[28]

On 14 December, diplomatic efforts mediated by the international coalition to establish a ceasefire between Turkish-backed forces and the SDF collapsed.[29] Following the breakdown of negotiations, local sources reported that Turkish and Turkish-backed forces initiated significant military mobilization around strategic locations, particularly near the Qarqozak Bridge and along Kobani's borders along the Syria–Turkey border.[30]

Iraqi and Syrian water experts confirmed the development of cracks in the Tishrin Dam's main wall following continuous military bombardments on the dam, and warned of the increasing possibility of a dam breach should military combat continue in the area. The experts predicted that a breach could produce multiple waves as high as seven meters that could travel into Iraq and destroy several river settlements in Al Anbar Governorate.[31]

In December 2024, the factions supported by Turkey announced they would discontinue the ceasefire with groups supported by the US, such as Syrian Democratic Forces. One news article noted: "The SNA, an umbrella of several armed factions, informed the SDF on Monday that it would be returning to 'a state of combat against us,' one of the sources briefing Al-Monitor said. The sources said negotiations between the SDF and the SNA had 'failed' and that 'significant military buildups' in areas east and west of the Kurdish town of Kobani on the Turkish border were being observed."[32] On 17 December 2024, the truce was extended by a week.[2] On 18 December 2024, Turkish backed groups violated the ceasefire and attempted an incursion into SDF territory, the incursion failed with 21 SNA fighters dying in the clashes, five SNA members were likewise captured.[9][33]

Since the beginning of December, Turkish airstrikes left 20 SDF fighters, 15 former SAA soldiers and 16 civilians killed during Operation Dawn of Freedom.[19]

Furthermore, two Kurdish journalists were killed in a Turkish airstrike on their car in Ain-Al Arab countryside.[16]

On 21 December, five civilians were killed in a Turkish airstrike.[17] Five SDF fighters were killed by Turkish artillery shelling of positions on Tishrin Dam.[14]

On 22 December, two civilians were killed following Turkish artillery shelling of Kobani.[18]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 4 killed on 13 December,[5] 4 killed on 17 December,[6] 21 killed on 18 December,[7] 5 killed on 20 December[8]
  2. ^ "Dozens" on 10 December[11] and 210 on 13 December[12]
  3. ^ 11 killed on 9 December,[13] 6 killed on 11 December,[1] 5 killed on 21 December[14]
  4. ^ 2 killed on 17 December,[15] 2 killed on 20 December,[16] 5 killed on 21 December,[17] 2 killed on 22 December [18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "New attack | Turkish drone kills and injure ten members of "Manbij Military Council Forces" in west Euphrates region". SOHR. 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Truce Extended At Syria Flashpoint Between Kurds, Pro-Turkish Fighters: US". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  3. ^ "After taking control of three villages | SDF and military formations take control of surroundings of Tishrin Dam and launch combing operation - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 23 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Syrian opposition forces launch new offensive in Manbij, northern Syria". Türkiye Today. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Killing four militiamen | SDF foil two attempts by Turkish-backed factions to sneak into frontlines in Tel Abyad countryside". SOHR. 13 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Military escalation | Members of "National Army" kil*led and injured in an attack in Al-Raqqa". SOHR. 17 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Violating ceasefire | 21 members of Turkish-backed factions kil*led in attack on residential areas in Aleppo". SOHR. 18 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Infiltration operation | Five members of pro-Turkey factions kil*led in eastern Aleppo countryside". SOHR. 19 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Violating ceasefire | 21 members of Turkish-backed factions kil*led in attack on residential areas in Aleppo – The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 18 December 2024.
  10. ^ "SDF denies militants' takeover of crucial dam near Manbij". Rudaw Media Network. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024. Shami noted, claiming that they have killed more than 450 SNA militants in the last three weeks
  11. ^ a b "Clashes intensify in vicinity of Qaraqozaq bridge". Hawar News Agency. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Manbij Council: 210 mercenaries Killed at Tishrin Dam, Qereqozaqê Bridge". Hawar News Agency. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Aleppo | Turkish drone kills 11 SDF fighters in eastern countryside". SOHR. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Exchanged attacks | Five members of "SDF" killed in vicinity of Teshrin Dam in Aleppo". SOHR. 21 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Ongoing clashes between "National Army" and "SDF" | Child and young man shot de*ad with stray bullets in Aleppo". SOHR. 17 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Turkish drone attack | Two journalists killed and driver injured in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani)". SOHR. 20 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Turkish aerial escalation | Five people killed including a woman in Al-Hasakah as a drone shells grain centre in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani)". SOHR. 21 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Military escalation | Woman and her daughter killed under direct shelling on houses of civilians in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani)". SOHR. 22 December 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Amid ongoing clashes in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside | 54 people killed in attacks by Turkish drones on north-eastern Syria". SOHR. 20 December 2024.
  20. ^ Brian Burns (9 December 2024). "US-Backed SDF Faces Growing Challenges Amid Local Dissent, External Pressures In Syria". Tampa Free Press. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ^ السوري, المرصد (10 December 2024). "خلال 3 أيام من الاشتباكات في ريف حلب الشرقي.. مقتل نحو 220 عنصرا من الفصائل الموالية لتركيا و"قسد" في منبج وجسر قرقوزاق | المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان" (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Minbic'den sonra Kobanî'ye saldırdı". YeniOzgurPolitika.com (in Turkish). 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  23. ^ "New attack | Turkish drone attacks military position in Tal Mishtanour in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside – The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  24. ^ "مقتل العشرات من عناصر الفصائل الموالية لتركيا خلال اشتباكات عنيفة في محيط سد تشرين – xeber24.net" (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  25. ^ "مظلوم عبدي: مقاتلونا أحبطوا محاولة تقدم الفصائل المدعومة من تركيا نحو كوباني". www.rudawarabia.net. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  26. ^ "أثناء عودتهم إلى منازلهم.. استشهاد مسنة وإصابة حفيدها في استهداف مباشر على جسر قرقوزاق | المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان" (in Arabic). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  27. ^ "هجوم تركي عنيف على سد تشرين يهدد بكارثة إنسانية لسكان منطقتي حلب والرقة | المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان" (in Arabic). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Syria's Manbij". The Defense Post. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  29. ^ ""وقف إطلاق النار" يفشل بين "قسد" وتركيا". عنب بلدي (in Arabic). 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  30. ^ "بعد إفشالها لمحاولة وقف إطلاق النار.. دولة الاحتلال التركي ومرتزقتها يحشدون قواتهم على حدود كوباني". العربية - Rojnews.news (in Arabic). 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  31. ^ "تشققات بجدار سد تشرين السوري تقلق العراق". وردنا (in Arabic). 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  32. ^ Turkey-backed Syrian factions end US-mediated ceasefire with Kurdish-led SDF, Sources told Al-Monitor that negotiations between the sides had "failed" amid "significant military buildups" on the Turkish border. by Amberin Zaman, 16 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Violating ceasefire agreement | Pro-Turkey factions attack SDF, while SDF foil attack and capture five members of "National Army" – The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 18 December 2024.
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